WHO announces new name for monkeypox; know what the disease should be called

The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday (28) the new recommendation for nomenclature of “monkeypox”🇧🇷 In a statement, the entity advises that the disease be called by the term “MPOX”, which derives from “monkeypox”, the English name.

The reason behind the new recommendation is that the previous nomenclature would have opened the door for racist and stigmatizing comments on social media and in other environments. Furthermore, it is already known that the monkeys are not transmitters of the virus that causes the disease🇧🇷

Read more: Monkey pox: see activities at risk of infection

“As the monkeypox outbreak expanded earlier this year, racist and stigmatizing language online, in other settings and in some communities was observed and reported to WHO. In various meetings, both public and private, a number of individuals and countries raised concerns and asked WHO to propose a way to change the name.

According to the WHO, the two names will be used simultaneously for a year as a form of adaptation until “monkeypox” and “monkeypox” fall into disuse.

The new recommendations for the nomenclature of the disease

The choice of the new name was based on consultations with specialists, the general public and countries, who sent suggestions for new terms. Following the decision, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom announced a series of recommendations, such as:

• Adoption of the new English synonym “MPOX” for the disease;

• MPOX will become a preferred term after a one-year transition period. This serves to assuage concerns raised by experts about the confusion a quick name change can cause amid a global outbreak;

• The name “MPOX” will be virtually included in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) in the coming days;

• The term “monkeypox” will still be in the CID records to match historical information.

Know more: Increase in COVID cases makes SP resume mandatory masks in public transport

The Organization also stated that the term MPOX was preferred as it could be used in other languages. “If additional naming issues arise, they will be resolved through the same mechanism. Translations are usually discussed in formal collaboration with relevant government authorities and related scientific societies,” the WHO added in a statement.

“WHO will adopt the term MPOX in its communications and encourage others to follow these recommendations, to minimize any continued negative impact of the current name and the adoption of the new name,” he concludes.